THIS WEBSITE is dedicated to those Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airpersons who refuse to fight in illegal wars or to commit war crimes. These young men and women face persecution because they are following their consciences and obeying international law. They need and deserve our support, and we need them. When even more soldiers say no, the wars will be over.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Tuesday, May 25, was a very important day for the 200 U.S. war resisters who are seeking sanctuary in Canada. The case of Jeremy Hinzman, the first to do so, was argued in Canada’s Federal Court of Appeals. The outcome may decide the fate of Jeremy, his wife Nga Nguyen and their two young children. The court's decision, expected to take several months, may also determine the fate of other young men and women who are facing deportation to the U.S., followed by courts martial and imprisonment.

Also on Tuesday, May 25,, the Canadian Parliament held a debate on a bill that would allow Iraq War resisters to remain in Canada. The House of Commons is expected to vote on the bill, C-440, in September.According to several polls, nearly two-thirds of Canadians want their government to allow U.S. war resisters to have legal status in Canada. But Prime Minister Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party, does not agree. The Conservative government has already deported several war resisters and is aggressively pursuing the deportation of others.Last weekend, USA Today published an excellent article on U.S. war resisters in Canada, including Vietnam War resisters. It is very much worth reading. There is also a short video on the USA Today website.http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-05-23-war-resisters_N.htm?csp=hf

Vietnam war resisters and Iraq war resisters toast one another

at Grossman's Tavern in Toronto.

YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR WAR RESISTERS IN CANADA

The War Resisters Support Campaign in Canada is a national network of churches, labor unions, activists and artists, including Vietnam War resisters who are now Canadian citizens. The War Resisters Support Campaign has been supporting our war resisters ever since early 2004, when Jeremy Hinzman arrived in Toronto.

The Campaign is very much in need of donations at this moment, so that they can continue their legal defense of war resisters facing deportation. We recommend that you send them a note at this time thanking them for taking care of U.S. war resisters. And give them a donation while you are at it. It is very much needed and will be very well spent. Please visit their website and make a donation today.

GI Rights Hotline, 1-877-447-4487

Are you or a member of your family trying to get out of the military? Have you already taken an unauthorized absence (AWOL/UA)? Are you facing racism or sexual harrassment within the military? If you want to know your rights and your options, call the toll free GI Rights Hotline, staffed by a network of volunteers from nonprofit, nongovernmental military counseling agencies. And check out their website at http://girightshotline.org/

How to go AWOL in Canada

Donate to Project Safe Haven

Project Safe Haven has been working directly with U.S. war resisters, in Canada and the U.S. for over seven years. Your tax-deductible donation will allow us to continue this vital work. To make a secure credit card donation online, just click on the link below, which will take you to our fiscal sponsor, the Alliance For Global Justice.http://www.nicanet.org/?page_id=341Under "Credit Card Payments" on the left, check "Other," and type in "Project Safe Haven."Checks and money orders can be made out to "AFGJ" and mailed to Gerry Condon, P.O. Box 250, Vina, CA 96092. Make sure you write "Project Safe Haven" in the memo line on the check. Or to inquire about making a donation, you can call 206-499-1220.